Biodiversity Conservation And Livelihood Programme In Panchase, Phewa Watershed

Introduction 

The program was originated in the target communities. Based on the priority of the need and demand from the community, Hariyo Ban Programme/WWF has taken this initiative to design a Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihood Project for the development of a Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape corridor.  The project is mainly focus on  : Support NRM Group in Conservation Activities, Biodiversity Conservation and Governance Awareness Raising, Institutional Strengthening Support to Saving Credit Group, Green Enterprise, Cultivation of Broom grass and Cardamom, Eco-tourism Promotion Support, Macro credit Cooperatives Promotion, Tea and Coffee Promotion and Piloting, CAP Implementation Support, IGA, Micro Watershed Implementation, Support to Establish Conservation Model Village.

MDO had selected to undertake Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihood Program on Phewa Watershed and Panchase Protection Forest through the Letter of interest that was called from Hariyo Ban Program with mentioning intervention areas, dated 24 January 2013.

Goal and Objective

The objective of this project is to reduce threats to biodiversity through livelihood support in the Panchase, Phewa Watershed.

Target audience

People of the Phewa Watershed

Working areas

Phewa Watershed and Panchase areas

Major Highlights

Startup activities 

• Supported of NRM Group in conservation activities (Activities number 1)
• Plantation in Phewa watershed (Activity number 2)
• Seed money Revolving Fund for IGA- Microcredit Cooperation promotion (Activities number 8)
• Cultivation of Broom grass and cardamom (Activity number 6)
• Tea and coffee promotion and piloting (Activity number 9)

Progress on activity implementation

• Supported of NRM Group in conservation activities (Activities number 1): Plantation of the broom grass was done at Bamdibhir and Rai Bhandar CFUGs. Detail at annex 1
• Plantation in Phewa watershed (Activity number 2): These days problem of climate change is emerging issues. It began to show its effect on living creature. Reduction of carbon emission is major concern of the world. Similarly, to setup a corridor at Chitwan and Annapurna Landscape the Phewa watershed, adjoining area of the Panchase is very appropriate.
• For that event plantation of big tree like Tejpat, Champ, Rai Khaniu, Badahar etc was done. Plants were planted all the VDCs of the Phew watershed. In most areas, groups were involved for the plantation on their open field as well as CF and school compound. Detail list is shown in annex number 2.
• The Phewa watershed is sloppy and it covers less thickness of soil. The integrated Phewa Watershed Management Plan developed from different organization has recommended for the plantation of the bushes plant on there. Therefore, plantation of the broom grass, tea and coffee plants were done at those sites. Plantation of the broom grass (Amriso) was done all over the Phewa watershed either in public, CF or private land. Detail list is shown in annex number 3.
• However, season for the coffee plantation was gone away but some coffee seedlings were planted in the pre cultivation field ie Lauruk of Kaskikot and Chankhapur of Sarankot VDC. List is shown in annex number 4.
• Likewise, most of the areas falls on Phewa watershed are good for Tea plant. Therefore, plantation of tea plants was done. People are very attracting towards its cultivation. Some sites were taken as piloting for future. Most of the sites were taken at cluster making it easy to set up refining factory in future. The plantation sites are shown in annex number 5.
• Seed money Revolving Fund for IGA- Microcredit Cooperation promotion (Activities number 8): This support was targeted to improve the livelihood of marginal communities. The amount was provided as seed money to the CFUGs and channelized through cooperative as a revolving fund. The beneficial was user member of Community forest and they got their service from cooperative after recommendation receives from their CFUGs committee. This supports were provided to Thotne Khola CFUG of Sarankot through Bhawan Cooperative, Karangkot CFUG of Pumdibhumdi through Jaya Kalyan Dairy Production Cooperative, Bhakarjung CFUG of Dhikurpokhari through Digo Mahila Cooperative and Bamdhibhir and Rai Bhandar CFUGs of Chapakot VDC through Sagarmatha Mahila Cooperative Ltd. Some of the CFUGs are able to move the fund as a loan which is shown in annex number 6. The fund for Kaskikot VDC is under implementation. All the process was followed accordingly to the guideline developed from Hariyo Ban Programme/WWF Nepal
• Cultivation of Broom grass and cardamom (Activity number 6): These plant are very important as NTFP, stabilize soil erosion. At Bhakarjung CF of Dhikur Pokhari VDC cultivation of Cardamom was done whereas at Bhadaure Tamagi cultivation of Broom gas is planning and they are waiting for favourable season.
• Tea and coffee promotion and piloting (Activity number 9): Dhikur Pokhari VDC is favourable for Coffee plantation. Dialogue with community or members of Coffee cooperative was done. They were ready for the activities to implement. Most of them were positive to wait until favourable season of plantation.
• Similarly, Bhadaure Tamagi is good for Tea so plantation of the tea was done at Talisbrang Bhadaure Tamagi VDC ward number 2. People were very eager to cultivate that plant on their farm. The entire tea seedlings were planted by making groups. It is hope that plant will be help to enhance home stay. Plantation of the tea was also done at its near areas Deurali and Tamagi. It is planned to make a corridor of Tea plant on there.